2015 NSW Election results what it means for the Illawarra

2015 NSW Election results – what it means for the IllawarraNew South Wales has voted to convincingly reelect a Baird Liberal Government over the weekend and in doing so has backed the Government’s plans for partial privatisation of the state-owned “poles and wires” electricity network. Despite a swing of just under 9 percent to Labor, the Liberal party will take a predicted 53 seats in the Legislative Assembly to Labor’s 34 – giving the Liberal party the numbers it needs to form Government and push on with its reform agenda and its promise of big infrastructure spending. So what does this all mean for the Illawarra?The weekend’s election has seen no changes in the six state seats that make up the Illawarra – Heathcote, Keira, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and South Coast – with the incumbent MPs in each seat looking like holding power. The only seat yet to be officially called by the NSW Electoral Commission is the seat of Wollongong where sitting MP Noreen Hay is leading against Independent Arthur Rorris with Noreen Hay getting 40% of the primary votes counted so far and after preferences 56.9% of the count to Arthur Rorris’ 43.1%. This means there is still an equal split between labor and liberal seats across the Illawarra – with three seats each. The two key members on the rise are the Liberal Member for Kiama Gareth Ward and the Labor Member for Keira Ryan Park who both increased their margin at the weekend. The biggest win for the Illawarra out of the election is the Government’s commitment to build the much-needed Albion Park Rail bypass. This is a big win for the Illawarra and comes off the back of strong advocacy work by the Property Council of Australia to see this project built. The Albion Park Rail bypass will see a 10km extension of the Princes Motorway between Yallah and Oak Flats to address congestion issues along what is considered by the NRMA as the worst stretch of road in the Illawarra. The Baird Government announced $5 million in funding in the lead up to the election to build the Albion Park Rail bypass with construction due to start in 2018. The bypass will take away 16 intersections and the last remaining traffic lights from Heathcote to Bomaderry and is expected to reduce commute times by 30 percent on a daily commute. The biggest question mark after the weekend’s election result is around the Illawarra’s hopes of having a fully-fledged convention centre built – a project that is important in helping to create local jobs, strengthen the Illawarra’s tourism industry and broaden the economic offering of the region. During the election campaign Labor promised $35 million to upgrade the Wollongong Entertainment Centre (WEC) to a convention facility supporting more than 280 new jobs and an extra $12 million in economic activity. Labor’s loss at the weekend means the WEC will need to convince the Liberal Government that the upgrade is worth the investment after already missing out on making the shortlist of projects under the Restart NSW Illawarra Infrastructure Fund. With the election now decided and the Baird Government being voted in on a platform of strong infrastructure spending the Illawarra needs to continue to fight for our share of the investment pie. At the top of the list of priority projects for the region must be the big ticket items of the M1/F6 upgrades, faster rail between Central and Wollongong and completing Maldon to Dombarton. Investment in a Convention Centre will also be a game-changer for the region and a much-needed project. The next four years will be a telling time for the Illawarra with more private investment coming into the region and the face of the region continuing to change. What remains to be seen is whether the Government is serious about investing in a region that has long been overlooked but now more than ever is proving itself a region worthy of stronger public investment. Seat by seatHeathcote: Liberal’s Lee Evans voted in for a second term with an 11.5% swing against him.Keira: Labor’s Ryan Park voted in for a second term with a 15.4% swing towards him. Wollongong: Labor’s Noreen Hay looks to be voted in for a fourth term with a 2.4% swing to Independent Arthur Rorris. Shellharbour: Labor’s Anna Watson voted in for a second term with a 7% swing towards her. Kiama: Liberal’s Gareth Ward voted in for a second term with a 2% towards him. South Coast: Liberal’s Shelley Hancock voted in for a fourth term with an 11% swing against her.